TRIDECAPHOBIA!
The Numbers
[table id=TS02G43 /] [table id=IS02G43 /] [table id=GM02G43 /]* – Stats are courtesy of War-on-Ice.com, Puckalytics.com and Hockey-Reference.com
Projected Lineups
[table id=PF02G43 /] [table id=PD02G43 /] [table id=PG02G33 /] [table id=OF02G43 /] [table id=OD02G43 /] [table id=OG02G43 /]The Hat Trick
Well, That Was Ugly: The Panthers won their twelth straight last night, which I am sure you are aware of by now (unless you live under a rock). It was not a graceful victory though. The game devolved into chippiness, with both teams taking runs at each other. The Panthers 31 penalty minutes were the most they have had all season. The combined 46 penalty minutes between the two teams was the most of any game the Panthers have been involved in 2015-16.
It was also ugly in the shot column, as the Panthers were handedly outattempted. The final total was 69-36 in favor of the Oilers, 52-33 at 5v5. The Panthers were outattempted in every period in all situations, and managed only a 15-13 advantage in the 3rd period at 5v5. They got the job, as we’ve gotten used to, but that was an uncomfortable ride. With Aaron Ekblad sitting out tonight (after that brutal hit from behind by Matt Hendricks), hopefully the Panthers don’t slide too much. However, losing your #1 defenseman hurts, no matter who you are.
Training Day: Nick Bjugstad picked up his first NHL fight last night, and suffered a nasty gash for his trouble. However, that aside, I actually thought he looked fine. Nick got a couple nice shots in on Gryba, he just had the misfortune of getting cut by a broken visor.
Now, what if I told you this fight was at least 14 months in the making? Well, we have evidence in video captured by Sunshine Skate photographer Sarah during a practice in November 2014. Here, you can see Bjugstad and Aaron Ekblad getting some tips from Shawn Thornton. Bjugstad then takes the wisdom imparted on him and spars with Gudbranson. (Ekblad spars with Thornton too, if that interests you)
http://youtu.be/AOAMSyxmFc0
Trading Places: Tonight’s goaltending matchup features the two goaltenders involved in the March 2014 trade that brought Roberto Luongo back to the Panthers. We saw that matchup briefly on December 20 in the shootout. That, of course, ended with the flabbergasting Aleksander Barkov goal, and Roberto Luongo subsequently sealing the deal thereafter. This, however, will be the first time they go head to head to start a game. It will also be the first time Markstrom plays a proper game against the team that drafted him.
He will be looking for a better result this time around, but he won’t be able to run from one thing: in his first game against his former team, he was credited with a loss, even though he was credited with 0 minutes.
Closing Thoughts
Your Roberto Luongo Moment of Zen:
Grapes just butchered every single name of the guys on our team yet we are incredibly honored to be a part of the tradition…#coachescorner
— Strombone (@strombone1) January 10, 2016
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